After a succesful maiden voyage, the Free Gaza movement has launched it's second attempt at entering beleagured Gaza by boat. Today the Dignity set sail from Cyprus, bound for Gaza. This time the Israeli state has vowed to stop the boat if it enters Israeli waters. It did not enter Israeli waters on the last voyage, and it has no need to enter them this time. By stopping the boat in Gaza's territorial waters, the Israeli state will be confirming once again that they are still the occupiers of Gaza.
The Dignity sets sail from Limassol
A number of passengers remained in Gaza after the last voyage, and thus ISM Gaza was born. A major activity of the ISMers has been to accompaby fishermen as they face the Israeli Navy who have imposed a 6 mile limit on the fishermen, and who have frequently fired on boats, even when they are within the arbitrary limit set by Israel. Recent reports from ISMers indicate that a new tactic of the Navy is to use water cannon, which are reported to have fired toilet waste at fishing boats.
Among those travelling towards Gaza on the Dignity are Mustapha Barghouti, (MP and Minister of Information in the Palestinian National Unity Government), Israeli MK Jamal Zahalka (Balad), Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire (co-founder of the Community of Peace People for a peaceful resolution of the Northern Ireland conflict) and a number of medical doctors. The boat is also carrying supplies, including cough mixture which is not available in the Gaza strip following the closure of Gaza's borders by Israel for well over a year.
Regular updates will be posted at www.freegaza.org
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